First Day of School!

Ready to go, but first we had to stop and get pictures of the first day of school! I'm not sure who's more excited, the kids or Mommy!!!
Daniel's starting 3rd grade. We've homeschooled up to this point so I'm a bit concerned about the transition to a traditional classroom. He seems to have survived the first week of school without getting in trouble. He was even disappointed that he didn't get to go to school on Labor Day--didn't bother to tell him how disappointed I was, too, that they didn't get to to go to school!
When I expressed remorse at my little girl growing up and leaving me for kindergarten, Hannah consoled me with, "It's okay, Mommy, we can still play together in the afternoon. I'll only be gone for the mornings!"
Yes...I know this pic is blurry...just imagine that it's how I saw it--through my tears--both of joy and sadness! :-)
We had sucha fun time picking out back packs! We had to open up every single option and see what it looked like on the inside before Hannah chose this princess one. The deciding factor was that this one came with a lunch bag that velcros onto the backpack for her snack for snack time! I'd like to think there might be an ounce of her daddy's practicality in her, but I'm pretty sure she's got most of my "It's all about how it looks over function" in her! Daniel however is most like Brent and chose his based on how much he could get in it and how durable it would be. His big decision was finding a good color--he is his Daddy's boy for sure!

Daniel gets baptized!

Daniel made a profession of faith a while back while he was attending a NBT program at a local church. We were fairly confident that he was saved, but rejoiced when he was adament about needing to be baptized. Brent talked with him on several different occasions from the Bible about why a person should be baptized, and Daniel showed as clear of an understanding as one can show. Our church does not have a baptism tank, so we have to head to a lake about once or twice a year to baptize people. There were 15 people that were baptized this time! It was an exciting time to see young people openly profess Christ as their Savior and a desire to live for Him. It was also a great thing to see many adults baptized--the Lord has been working in some great ways in our little church!
Each of the people getting baptized had to share their salvation testimony with the group of people gathered. It was a special thing to see our little boy, who used to be so shy and quiet (quite a long time ago now, it seems!), so boldly speak of his decision to follow Christ.
One of the neat things our church does is allow the dads to baptize their children or anyone who has discipled the person getting baptized. It was special for Brent to be able to baptize Daniel as his earthly father and spiritual brother. Here Brent and Daniel are watching other people get baptized. They had to go so far out to get deep enough so this is the best picture I could get!
Daniel is ready for Brent to "bury him in the likeness of His death..." Notice the speed boat in the background? One of the downsides of baptizing at a public lake on one of the last nice weekends of the summer!

We praise the Lord for our children. It is our sincere desire and prayer for them to live for the Lord with every ounce of their being from as early of an age as possible. It's quite a sobering thing to realize that they are growing up and our time to train them Biblically is ticking away.

Time to Slop the Pigs...or that's what it feels like!

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Sarah loves eating her baby food...even the green beans! She gets so excited she literally attacks the spoon sometimes. Her little arms getting to flailing and her legs get to kicking--it's really something to see. Yesterday I was feeding her in the living room (by the AC--its was in the 90's here) and she was sending the applesauce everywhere--literally! She knocked my hand with a spoonful of applesauce, and the applesauce went flying over her head and onto the carpet behind her. By the time I was done feeding her, my leg was covered and I had managed to get it on MY shirt in 2 different places. She's definitely going to be taking after Hannah who still can't eat without getting it all over herself!

I went and got Daniel to video us...hence the video moving all over and the cute comments he "whispered" at the end!

a quick update

After my last post about never being able to win at Croquet, I have to let everyone know that I won a game of Stinger on Monday!!! It was close; I was almost beat out, but I managed to win against Daniel and Hannah. I knew it was just a matter of time until I would come out victorious! Just thought you'd all want to know...(yes...Brent was at work if you didn't read that between the lines...but we're only focusing on the victorious part for now!)

Family Time At It's Best...except that he ALWAYS WINS!!!

Hannah is such a little mother-type...we went outside for a rousing game of croquet last night, and she brought her little stroller out. Don't know if you can tell, but she has a tiny little naked baby doll, a sippy cup for her doll, and a photo album in the stroller. She played the first game with us, and the third game, but took a break during the second one to feed her baby. I looked over at her sitting in her little kid's lawn chair and saw her screw on the lid to her sippy cup and give it a good shaking like she was mixing formula for her baby to drink. I'm still nursing, so I'm not sure where she got it from...I'm guessing it's all built in by the Lord.

Hannah has the same mothering instincts, but unfortunately for her, Hannah has my athletic ability, too. Brent tries to help her out, but she just doesn't get it. Daniel was even trying to encourage her last night, but some things were just not meant to be...

When Daniel realized how well Hannah did if Brent helped her, he starting playing all helpless so Brent would help him, too. Daniel does just fine...I think he just wanted his fair share of attention. By the end of the third game, Daniel and I were ganging up on Brent, but he still managed to blow us away at "Stinger" all three times. We even tried to change the rules (a trick I'm known for in my last futile attempts at winning) but he got us everytime...it's no fun when we play with grown-ups...next time Daniel, Hannah, and I are playing by ourselves...maybe then I'll have a chance...but I'm not holding my breath!

Just a fun shot I took the other night...has absolutely nothing to do with croquet, but I couldn't resist this face!

How does she manage?!?

So I've been pretty pleased with how Sarah has taken to solids...she clearly likes to eat! Until yesterday--for some strange reason she decided she didn't want to eat, but rather play...and she ended up with rice cereal from her eyebrows to her ears to all the rolls in that chubby little neck of hers! I just think she wasn't in the mood to eat...go figure!

Hannah loves to read books to Sarah. I bought a bunch of those touch and feel books when Hannah was a baby, and now I'm so glad I kept them! It's a favorite thing of Hannah's to sit and read books to Sarah. As you can see, Sarah doesn't seem to mind either! By the way...Hannah's latest thing is to "read in her mind" She almost has Daniel convinced that she can really read--she just can't say the words!

I like this kind of thinking!

My mother-in-law sent me an email with this in it...I think I'll keep this perspective next time I have to step on the scales at the doctor's office!

Yesterday I went to the doctor for my yearly physical. My blood pressure was high, my cholesterol was high, I'd gained some weight and I didn't feel so hot.
My doctor said eating right doesn't have to be complicated and it would solve my physical problems. He said just think in colors; fill your plate with bright colors; greens, yellows, reds, etc.
I went right home and ate an entire bowl of M&M's and sure enough, I felt better immediately. I never knew eating right could be so easy.

This one turned out great!!!

I was playing around with my filters in my photo editor today and came up with this one. I think I'm going to get it printed in an 8 x 10 and frame it in a black frame with a big white mat! I'm loving the way it turned out! The pic is from this Sunday before we left for church.

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There's little that compares to the giggle of a little girl responding to her Daddy's tickles!

I just don't get it...

I send the kids outside to play everyday. And most of the time they go adventuring, but the past several days they've been camping out on the front porch. We have 4 acres of land, some densely wooded, a great swing set, a paved driveway and basektball hoop, a gravel part of our driveway for digging in and spinning out on their big wheels, but no...they camp out on the porch! I even tried to get them to camp out under the shade of one our many trees, but they would not be persuaded. I think it must be the electrical outlet that they have the cd player plugged into so they can listen to their book on cd...go figure!

Pics from the kids time at Grandpa and Grandma Griffins

Two of Hannah's favorite things...shopping bags and umbrellas! She often scavenges behind me when I'm putting things away from a shopping trip. "Can I have that bag, mommy?" Her room is full of plastic bags with all her little treasures in them!
Down by the camper is one of Daniel and Hannah's favorite spots at Grandma and Grandpa Griffins. They have picnics and weiner roasts. They get to sleep in the camper on special occasions. One night during their visit, Grandma and Hannah went down and had a sleepover in the camper. They stayed up until midnight watching movies...just the girls!

So when they needed a place to keep their riding lawn mower, true to Grandma and Grandpa fashion, they built the kids a clubhouse! Oh yeah, the lawn mower is underneath the clubhouse, but the top is for the kids to play in...and it has a great slide!

Sarah loved Grandpa Griffin, that's for sure!!!

Not sure who she's talking to here...maybe me...but more likely it's Great Grandma Griffin..."Can I come down and play at your house?!?"

Hannah lost her first tooth while she was at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was so loose for so long. Grandpa even tried to use the pliers, but to no avail. It eventually became so loose that Grandma was able to pull it. Tooth #2 is now loose, and Hannah is much braver now that she knows more about how it will feel when it comes out.

Grandpa on the roof retrieving a frisbee...enough said!!!

Grandpa had a birthday while the kids were visiting. Daniel went to the cousins' house and Hannah LOVED having all the attention for herself! 58?!? Grandpa's really getting old, isn't he!!!

Playing catch up with the pictures

Here's a bunch of misc shots from around the house recently and what not...

My dad and my brother during my one day visit at my house where I grew up. I stayed the night after picking the kids up about an hour south of here.

My brother is truly the biggest kid I know. He makes the addage, "the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys" true. They don't have kids of their own yet, so they buy toys to play with when the nieces and nephews come over. Like this monster banzai inflatable water slide that is about 10 feet tall or so. The kids loved it even more when my dad hooked it up inside the house and had the warm water coming from the wash tub in the basement instead of the water hose spicket! It was like bath water... or so I'm told...I steared clear of the whole thing!

I really don't think he'll ever grow up! But the kids sure do like playing with him!

Hannah's attempt at taking our picture. This is the best one she got! We clearly need to work on getting our heads in the little screen on the back of the camera...

We stopped at the Mackinac Bridge for a break on our drive back home. It's about half way between my parents' house and our house in Pembine. I let the kids get out and play along the beach and wade into the water while I nursed Sarah. It took a bit longer than I planned, but they had fun! It's one our favorite places along the drive to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Daniel said the funniest thing the other day...

Okay...so we're in Walmart looking at the school supplies--I'm not sure who's more excited about the kids going to school, me or them, so we were among the first to hit the school supplies aisles at Wally World once they moved the fireworks out of the way. Daniel and Hannah were ooing and ahhing over all the fun little gadgets and different things while I was swiping all the 20 cent crayons and gluesticks I could find into my cart (I hate coloring with dull crayons, and one can never have too many gluesticks when doing crafts with a 5 year old!) I looked over at Daniel, and he has a little pencil sharpener in his hands turning it over and over in amazement. It was just one of the little ones, but it did have a case to catch the shavings in--much like the ones every little kid has in his school box at one time or another. In an awestruck voice he says to me, "Look, Momma...a wireless pencil sharpener!" What has happened to our society that our kids think in terms of wireless when they see something like a manual pencil sharpener! I guess that tells you what kind of techno-geek household we have!

I've been tagged in the worst possible way!!!

So I know it's been years since I've blogged...I'm sorry...I won't bore you with all kinds of excuses, just hopes of getting better! I'm going to be posting random pictures of things from the past month or so as I get time, so we'll see! :-)

But on to better things...My friend, Marsel, tagged me on her blog--a long time ago--and I'm just now getting around to answering her question. And for those of you who are from around here or have visited, you'll understand why it's taken me so long to come up with my 3 favorite restaurants that we like to go to that aren't chains! I had a hard time coming up with 3 that weren't fast food! Quite honestly, when we eat out we either hit Pizza Hut, BK, McD's (the manager of McD's even bought us a baby gift when Sarah was born we frequent it so often!) We've been branching out lately and going to Subway and Taco Bell, but those are all chains...when Hannah and Daniel were gone to Grandma and Grandpa's house, the first thing Hannah asked about often on the phone was if the Arby's was finished being built yet! So this is truly a hard one for me...but here goes:
1. Mary's Place--I've included a picture so you all can really get an understanding of where we live! This is a great place to get a really good burger and an awesome milkshake. The onion rings are really good, too. But I do have to say I've been too scared to venture anywhere else on the menu. I've included a picture just so you see--it's really a truck stop more than anything. But it works in a pinch--especially when the electricity has gone out! It's totally the kind of place where you would expect the waitresses to yell, "Mel, Kiss my Grits!"
2. The Four Seasons--this is a country club/golf course that Northland has special arrangements with. It's the only place in town where the guys can go to have an off-site meeting. It's fame comes from the legend that it used to be a cover for organized crime back in the days of the mob and gangstahs! It's a very nice atmosphere and a good meal. I always think it's a bit pricey for the quality of food, but it's the best atmosphere around! It's quiet and classy.
3. Maxsells--this is an amazing place we just found! We've only gone once, but we'll be sure to go back for special occasions. This is definitely a "no kids" kind of place. It's about a 45 minute drive into the UP of Michigan, but worth every gallon of gas!!! It's an old house that's been redone and sits overlooking a lake. It's very posh-posh without being over the top. I walked in and felt quite special just being there. The steak was amazing and the atmosphere was wonderful!
So nothing too exciting to report on the restaurant front here...I'm so thankful we get to eat out on Sundays--I'm not picky anymore as long as I'm not cooking or cleaning up. Pizza Hut's always a favorite because there's usually leftovers for Sunday Night so it's good for 2 meals! Next time...tag me for something better, will you, Marsel!!!

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So it never ceases to amaze me how different Daniel and Hannah can be! She is so much like me, and he is so much like Brent at times. This video clip says it all...notice how Daniel zooms down the slip 'n slide like nothing at all. And then notice how carefully Hannah manuevers her way down in the safest possible manner! When I talk with them on the phone (they are still at Grandpa and Grandma's house) the slip 'n slide seems to be a favorite thing to play with so I imagine Hannah has gotten more daring as she's gotten used to it. I despise anything where I'm not stable and on sound footing. I don't like to rollerskate, skateboard, rollerblade...nothing where I'm out of control, I don't even like to run and slide on the ice like most people do...I perfected the penguin walk! She is so much like me, it's scary! I remember going down our slip 'n slide the exact same way as a kid, but I never got brave enough to just throw myself down face first onto a slippery wet piece of plastic!

sweet little smiles

Sarah's first bites of cereal

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Sarah had her first bites of cereal tonight and she loved it! I know this will come as a surprise to those of you have seen her recently, but she really does like to eat! Her tiny thighs and skinny arms will attest to that :-) And for those of you who haven't seen her recently, I'm totally speaking tongue-in-cheek--she clearly has no problem eating! :-)

This one is too funny!

I found this posted on facebook and thought it was hysterical...but I do want to praise the Lord and also clarify at the same time that Brent is not like this! I am continually reminded that he doesn't fit the typical stereotype of guys as much I fit the typical girl sterotype! But it is funny nonetheless! Enjoy:-)

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down Finally, the guys' side of the story.
(I must admit, it's pretty good.) We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side.
These are our rules! Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Shopping is NOT a sport And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a Problem. See a doctor.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you won't dress like the Victoria 's Secret girls, don't Expect us to act like soap opera guys.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of them makes you sad or angry, then we meant the other one
1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both.
If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle, besides we know you will bring it up again later.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear!
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really.
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;
But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.
Pass this to as many men as you can - to give them a laugh.
Pass this to as many women as you can - to give them a bigger Laugh

I smell like my Grandma!!!

It always amazes me how a smell can immediately transport us to another place and another time and evoke such memories with a simple whiff. I was painting our front porch the other day when Daniel walked up, smelled the paint fumes, and said, "That smells like our basement in Chicago!" He had helped me paint a corner of our basement for his classroom. Everytime I use a certain kind of spray starch on Brent's shirts, I can picture standing in front of the ironing board at the home of a kind lady I ironed for while I was in high school.

I had another one of those moments today. I found a great website, familyfun.com, that has a TON of great ideas for things to do with your kids. (also found the subscription to their magazine, a favorite of mine, for only $10 on the website!) So I'm all inspired to start spending more time doing fun things with my kids. We came home today from our mom's day out at the park, and I decided it was time to put some feet to my inspirations. I opened up a bar of Ivory soap that I had stopped at the store and bought for this craft, and my brain conjured up all these pictures of my grandma, who only used Ivory soap...for everything!!! She constantly smelled like Ponds and Ivory. The craft included grating a bar of Ivory and blending equal parts of shavings with lukewarm water and mixing it with an electric mixer for about 5 minutes. It comes out the consistency of shaving cream that you can color with food coloring. The kids used it to fingerpaint on our sliding glass doors. I had to show them how to do it so we were all up to our elbows in it by the time we were done. So now...I smell like my grandma! She's died many years ago, but I've been reminiscing about all the sweet times we had at her house. I was her favorite...everyone will tell you it's true...she taught me to play the piano, crochet, and sew, too...all the things I found incredibly interesting that no one else seemed to care for. I walked out of my room to answer the phone and was hit by this wave of food from the crock pot and Ivory soap...it was like walking into my grandma's front door!

I do have to wonder however amidst all the reminiscing if my next post will show me crying in frustration as I try to get all the soap off the windows! :0)

Da-da-da-da-Dora!

We had Hannah's hair cut yesterday...she wanted it long so we could put it up in pigtails, ponytails, and braids--she's all girl for sure! But it was just getting scraggly. I think it was all the tangles that pushed her over the edge, too! So we decided short is better for her! Her hair is pretty when it's long, but really cute when it's short...we decided she looks like Dora now! She was so funny...all day long she walked around looking at herself in any and every reflection saying, "I love my hair!" These girlie things are so innate it's scary!

Really...we do have a life...I think...

Honestly...we do other things than just sit and take pictures of Sarah...although I can't seem to think of any right now! So just a couple more pics to show everyone how much she's changing and starting to do things! She loves her exersaucer and the toys on it...she's picking up rattles now and actually playing with them. She's also getting really good at doing push-ups when she's on her tummy. Although her form is not quite perfect, she does a great job of getting her head up straight!

She's getting so very big!!!

Just a new picture to show the fam how big Sarah's getting! She's still as sweet as ever and her arms just keep getting squishier and squishier!

How to weigh yourself...

And to think I've been doing it wrong all these years! This is really good to know!

Photography at it's best!

For every great picture you get, there's at least 10 that are like this one! Especially when it comes to babies! I'm so glad we have our digital camera so we don't have to pay for pics that turn out like this...although this one might be a good one to keep for those times when we'll need funny pictures of her for those special Senior Graduation presentations!

I have started putting her in the exersaucer now and then...she likes it for the most part...she's really starting to play with things so the toys in front of her on the tray are a real draw. I can't believe how quickly time has flown by...she's pushing 4 months already!

It's 78 degrees here today! I've pushed the kids outside and am getting some spring cleaning done...although there are those nay-sayers who will always add that we have had snow as late as June before...I'm trying not to think of that...it's 78 and I'm loving it!

Updated photos

Just an update on how the kiddos are looking...nothing too exciting going on here. We're finally having some spring-like weather so Daniel and Hannah are outside almost all the time! We're finishing up our school work this next week --needless to say, Daniel's ecstatic about that! Sarah's doing really well--sleeping between 12-13 hours at night! I think maybe, just maybe, she's slowing down when it comes to gaining weight. She's not getting any heavier at least! And I do have to say that she's the happiest of all 3 of our babies. She only fusses if she's hungry or sleepy! I'm telling you...she's turning out more and more like me! :0)